Straightening-press.



, E. H. MEAD. STRAIGH TENING PRESS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 30, 1912.

Patented June 17, 1913.

2 SHEETB-SHEET 1.

COLUMBIA PMNDGRAPH CO.,WASH|NGTON, D. c

E. H. MEAD. STRAIGHTENING PRESS. APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 30, 1912.

Patented June 17, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLAN GRAPh :04. WA IHlZI-ITC'N, n. r.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELLIS'I-IL-MEAD, OF WESTERN SPRINGS, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE MIEHLE PRINTING PRESS & MFG. 00., OF CHICAGO, IIJLINOIS A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS;

STRAIGI-ITENING-PRESS.

citizen of the United States, residing at lV-estern Springs, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new Improvements in Straightening-Presses, of

which-the following is asp-ecification.

My invention relates to shop appliances, and has particular reference to a novel straightening device for bars, rods, shaft-s, tubing, or the like.

In manufacturing establishments, and particularly machine shops, it frequently be comes necessary to straighten rods or bars before further operations thereon are carried out. I am aware that many straightening' devices have been produced, some of which are efficient in operation as applied to certain types of work.

However, my invention relates more particularly to a straightening device for small shafts, the straightening being performed manually. I have found that for small work, with a device controlled manually much-better results can be secured both as tothe amount of time involved, and the accuracy with which the work is accomplished.

The device herein described is so arranged that the operations are carried out manually, the force applied, however, being enormously increased by the system of levers inte-rposed.

A further object is to produce in the machine described, means for controlling the extent of deflection, this means being operable by the same hand of the operator which applies the straightening force, and without removing his hand from the lever.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying,

drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same,-and Fig: 3 is an end view with a portion of the channel track removed.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, it will be understood that a shaft or bar to be straightened is preferably held be tween two points, such as the head and-tail of'a lathe, and rotatedinorder that the operator. may determine at what point the shaft needs straightening. Inasmuch as the shaft may be of'considerable length, I prefer to mount the straightening device in suit- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 30,1912.-

P'atented June 1'7, 1913. Serial No. 723,059.

able ways, such as the channels 10. The devicemay' then be moved from end to end of the shaft as desired, the operator having first determined by a piece of chalk or similar marking material where the straightening action-should take place. The channels 10 are provided with tracks 11 upon which are mounted wheels 12,13, and the guide rollers 14.'- The-wheel 13 being grooved and cooperating with track 11, serves to maintain the truck in proper position.- The frame of thedevic'e is composed of the sidemembers 15 connected at the top by the cross-bar 16 and at the bottom by the shaft 17. These side'plates l5 carry bearings 18, within which the axles 19 of the truckwheels 12,13, are carried. The bearing'for the guide-wheels 14 is provided'in the crossmember 16.

Garriedby the heavy cross-shafts 17 are the straightening-jaws 20, 21'. These jaws are staggered relatively'to each other, there being t'wo'of'the jaws 20 and one jaw 21. Thetwo jaws 20 are joined at their upper extremities by agrooved bar 22, upon which are mounted two sliding contact-blocks 23. Similarly, the jaw 21 is provided with a cOntact blO-ck 24: The two jaws are arranged tomove inwunison by reason of cooper'atings-egmental gears 25, 26, the gear 25-bein'g'integral with-jaw 21, whereas the gear 26 may be integral with a lever-arm 27 mountedon one of the shafts 17 and extending. upwardly, cooperating with short-shaft 28', passing; through both jaws 20, and connecting the jaws with links 29, extending forwardly and=being pivoted to a cross-bar 30. Links 31 are secured to jaw 21 by means of pin 32, these links being tied together at 33 and accommodating therebetween a socket 34 within which the end 35 of the threaded shank of a handle 36 terminates. This threaded shank cooperates with a threaded aperture in the cross-bar 30. By rotating the handle, it will be" seen that the links 29 and 31 may be moved relatively longitudinally, and as these links are of different radius, a change in the movement of the straightening-jaws"may be effected. Thus, the farther the links 31' are-moved away from the cross-bar 30, the greater the eX- tent' of movement due to the shifting of the links 29 and31-outof'parallelism. Pins 37 projectingfrom the ends of the links 31 ride in slotted ways'38 in the links 29.

The operation of the device may be described as follows: Assuming a shaft to have been placed and the point at which the straightening effect is to take place located, the device is moved in the proper position along the tracks on the channels 10. The blocks 23 are placed in proper position in order that the bending-etlect, whether abrupt or otherwise, is secured. The operator grasping the handle 36 lifts the links, thus causing the separation of the jaws. Then by rotating the handle the relation of links is changed to such an extent that upon the downward movement of the links and handle the jaw 21 will be forced inwardly against the shaft, the jaws 520 being forced in an opposite direction. In order that the links may be normally maintained in elevated position and the jaws separated, I provide stems 89 having suitable compression-springs 4O thereon.

The View shown in Fig. 2 is that of the straightening device in its closed position. In an elevated position the links are out of parallelism, which action changes the radius of movement of the two sets of links, this change in radius causing the oscillation of the straightening-jaws. it will be seen that the extent of bending movement is adjusted to an exceedingly fine point by means of the screw-threaded handle, and furthermore, by means of the movable stops the degree of bending movement may be controlled. The device may be cheaply constructed and is readily adaptable to all kinds of straightening work.

It will be noted on reference to the dotted lines in Fig. 2, that the handle 36 may be swung as a lever upon the pin 30 as a fulcrum, in order to secure a very wide opening of the jaws 20, 21. This swinging move ment of the handle 36 causes a large relative movement of the links 29, 31, thus causing as stated, a wide separation of the aws to permit a ready insertion of the work to be straightened.

Many modifications may be made in the structure herein shown, and such modifications as are within the scope of my claims, I consider within the spirit of my invention.

1 claim:

1. In a straightening-press, the combination of a pair of intergeared movable jaws having staggered work-contacting points, links connected to said jaws, said links being oi dili'erent lengths, and means for pivotally securing together the free ends of said links, the movement of said jaws being produced by the oscillation of said links, substantially as described.

2. In a straighteningpress, the combination of jaws having staggered work-contacting points, links connected to said jaws, said links being of dillerent lengths, means for pivotally securing together the tree ends of said links, and means for changing the relation of the pivotal points of the tree ends of the links, whereby to change the initial degree of separation of the jaws, substantially as described.

3. In a straightening-press, the combination of jaws having staggered work-contacting points, means for causing the movement of said jaws in unison, links pivoted to one jaw, and shorter links pivoted to another jaw, the free ends of said links being adjustably pivoted to each other, substantially as described.

i. in a straightening-press, the combination 01? a wheeledframe, jaws mounted in said frame, links pivoted to said jaws, the links of one jaw being shorter than the links of the other jaw, the free ends of said links being pivotally secured to each other, and means for changing the point of pivotal attachment of the free end of one set of links to the free end of the other set of links, substantially as described.

In a straightening-press, the combination of a wheeled-1 'ame, jaws mounted in said frame, means for causing the movement of said jaws in unison, links pivoted to one set of jaws, other links pivoted to the other set of jaws, said latter links being of less length than the first links, means for pivotally uniting the free ends of both of said links, a handle, :i'iid means associated with said links and handle adapted to change the relative longitudinal position of said two sets of links and the jaws attached thereto, substantially as described.

6. In a straightening press, the combination oi a pair of intergeared movable jaws having staggered work contacting points, links connected to said jaws and extending to points unequally distant from the two sets of work-contacting points, means for pivotally securing together the free ends of said links, and means for shifting Said pivotal connections whereby relative movement of said links secured, substantially as described.

7. In a straightening press, the combination of a pair of intergeared movable jaws having staggered work-contaeting points, links connected to said jaws, and means for pivotally securing together the free ends of said links at a point unequally distant from the two jaws, the movement of said jaws being produced by the oscillation of said links, substantially as described.

8. In a straightening press, the combination of a pair of intergeared movable jaws having staggered work-contacting points, links connected to the jaws and extending generally in the same direction, and an operating handle fulcruined in the free end of one link and having a pivotal connection to the free end of the other link, substantially as described.

9. In a straightening press, the combina tion of jaws having staggered work-contacting points, links connected to the jaws and extending generally in the same direction, and an operating handle fulcrumed in the free end of one link and having a threaded pivotal connection to the free end of the other link, substantially as described.

10. In a straightening press, the combination of jaws having staggered work-contacting points, links connected to the jaws and extending generally in the same direction, an operating handle fulcrumed in the free end of one link and having a threaded pivotal connection to the free end of the other link, and a stop to limit the swing of the handle in one direction, substantially as described.

11. In a straightening press, the combination of jaws having staggered work-contacting points and intermeshing gear members whereby to cause the jaws to move in unison, links connected to each of the jaws and extending generally in the same direction to points unequally distant from the two jaws, an operating handle fulcrumed in the free end of one link and having a threaded pivotal connect-ion to the free end of the other link, substantially as described.

12. In a straightening press, the combination of a pair of intergeared movable jaws having staggered work-contacting points and angular opposed projections terminating in intermeshing gear members whereby to cause the jaws to move in unison, links connected to each of the aws and extending to points unequally distantfrom the two jaws, and means for pivotally se curing together the free ends of said links, substantially as described.

13. In a s rzightening press, the combination of aws having staggered work-contacting points and angular opposed projections terminating in intermeshing gear members whereby to cause the jaws to move in unison, links connected to each of the jaws and extending to points unequally distant from the two aws, and adjustable means for pivotally securing together the free ends of said links, substantially as described.

let. In a straightening press, the combination of jaws having staggered work-contacting points and angular opposed projections terminating in intermeshing gear members whereby to cause the jaws to move in unison, links connected to each of the jaws and extending to points unequally distant from the two jaws, and an operating handle fulcrumed in the free end of one link and having a threaded pivotal connection to the free end of the other link, substantially as described.

15. In a straightening press, the combination of jaws having staggered work-contacting points and angular opposed projections terminating in intermeshing gear members whereby to cause the jaws to move in unison, a pair of links connected to each of the jaws'and extending generally in the same direction transversely of the aws and parallel to a plane including the work-contacting points, the two sets of links terminating at points unequally distant from the jaws, cross bars connecting the members of each pair of links, a handle fulcrumed upon one of the cross bars and having a threaded pivotal connection to the other cross bar, and a stop to limit the swing of the handle in one direct-ion beyond alinement with the links, substantially as described.

16. In a straightening press, the combination of jaws having staggered work-contacting points and angular opposed projections terminating in intermeshing gear members whereby to cause the jaws to move in unison, a pair of links connected to each of the jaws and extending generally in the same direction transversely of the aws and parallel to a plane including the work-contacting points, the two sets of links terminating at points unequally distant from the jaws, cross bars connecting the members of each pair of links, a handle fulcrumed upon one of the cross bars and having a threaded pivotal connection to the cross bar, a stop to limit the swing of the handle in one direction beyond alinement with the links, and spring members tending to force the links out of alinei'nent, substantially as described.

ELLIS H. MEAD.

Witnesses Lnwis T. Gnnis'r, T. D. BUTLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 1). G. 

